Whether you’re trying to lose weight or improve your eating habits for overall health, you might be accidentally sabotaging your efforts with unhealthy eating habits that may surprise you. If so, then let me help clear up some simple mistakes that could be ruining your transition into a healthier pattern of eating.
As we know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. After all, it provides the fuel to energize the mind and body. In your attempts, you may be eating something like yogurt or cereal. There is nothing wrong with those choices except the yogurt or the type of cereal may be overdosed with sugar, which can cause a drop in energy within an hour due to low blood sugar.
Instead, you want to aim for healthy eating choices such as protein, whole grains and fiber. Something like a bowl of oatmeal is perfect because it is high in protein, whole grain and sports plenty of fiber. Yogurt is great, but read the label for one with 12 grams or less of sugar to keep that energy up.
Another of these unhealthy eating routines is believing that you can eat as much dried fruit for snacks as you want since it is fruit and healthy. The problem is that the drying process concentrates the sugar while also packing more calories per serving. The larger fresh piece of fruit is best to reach for since its water is better to infuse the body with energy. This also will amount to fewer calories.
A huge mistake many make is assuming low-fat or snacks that aren’t fried are healthier choices. Though as tasty as they are, these choices are chemically processed dry foods that have a lot of sodium, sugar, artificial chemicals such as preservatives, refined carbohydrates, and trans fat. These ingredients will surge through the system more quickly, only making you hungrier and tire sooner. Besides that, they lead to obesity, high blood pressure and conditions such as diabetes.
Something just as confusing is trusting foods that are labeled “no sugar added,” which is another of those unhealthy eating habits you may have picked up. This may sound safe, but you fail to take into account that there may be another source of sweeteners involved. These are sweeteners like honey, fruit juice or fruit, agave or brown rice also known as rice malt syrup that are basically glucose. Remember that the recommended amount of sugar per day for an adult is 30 grams or approximately seven teaspoons. Understanding where the sugar is coming from give you more control of keeping track of your daily sugar intake.
Something else that should be addressed is just grabbing anything to satisfy your hunger when you’re upset, busy or just too tired to cook can backfire. As a result, you can consume a greater number of calories from a heavier meal or less nutritious meal such as fast food.
Still, you may typically dine out for lunch during work day. Nothing is wrong with that except that done every day may amount to excessive bad fats, high sodium, high calories, etc. that can come back to haunt you with weight gain to a health problem. Moderation such as one or two days a week is a safer option.
These are just some unhealthy eating habits that you may want to change.
This is great advice. I do eat yogurt for breakfast at times so I will make sure that I read the label for one with 12 grams or less of sugar to keep up my energy. I often have oatmeal also.